Curtain



H. LESKO June 8, 1943.

cuamn Filed Dec. 6, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. LESKO CURTAIN June 8, 1943.

Filed Dec. e, 1946 2 sheets-s eet 2- Patented June 8, 1943 UN! TED STAT trio '7 Claims.

This invention relates to curtains and the mounting of the same and has for its principal object the provision of a new and improved device .of this kind.

It is a main object of the invention to provide a curtain which when mounted is planar and free from folds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame which is fitted in and concealed by the curtain and serves to hold the curtain taut.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision for mounting the frame and curtain in a window in such manner that the curtain may be swung out of th window when desired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means for securing the curtain and frame in place across the window.

Further objects of the invention, not specifically mentioned here, will be apparent from the detailed description and claims which follow, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example and in which: Figure l is an elevational view of a window with a pair of curtains mounted therein;

Figure 2 is a plan View of a curtain drawn to an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a .plan view of the frame;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 68 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figur 7 is a perspective view of the hinge member by which the curtain and frame are mounted and locked in place in the window; and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectiona1 view taken along the line 88 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Heretofore', curtains for bathrooms, kitchens, breakfast nooks and the like, have been composed of semi-transparent or translucent material and hung upon rods with much fullness so that the curtains hung in many folds. Frequently, such curtains have been fastened at both the top and bottom although in many. instances the bottom hangs free and may be drawn to one side of the window and held by suitable tie-backs.

The present invention modifies these previous curtains by providing a curtain and frame therefor which is planar and free from folds andother frills and when disposed in the window lies fiat against the window. The curtain and frame upon which it is supported is mounted by hingelike members which may be located upon the window frame, or, if desired, may be located directly upon the window sash so that the curtain will move with the sash as the same is raised or lowered. One or more curtains may be used in each window and in most instances two will be used. In the case of a large window, two curtains may be used for the lower sash and two more for the upper sash.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the curtain proper is composed of suitable material which is translucent and is ornamented by figures formed of opaque fabric and sewed upon the curtain. The curtain is bounded by a border of opaque fabric which border extends around the end of the curtain and over a portion of the backside thereof forming a pocket. The frame, composed of rigid materials, fits within this pocket and holds the curtain taut. Projections of the fram extend beyond the curtain along one edge thereof and are registered with hinge members mounted either. upon the window frame or window sash to support the frame and curtain therein, these hinge members being provided with notches into which the frame member is registered to lock the curtain in place across the window. When it is desired to move the curtain' away from its position across the window, it is raised slightly to disengage the frame member from the notch and then rotated upon its hinge mounting. If it is desired to remove the curtain completely from the window, the frame is lifted higher so as to disengage the same from the hinge members.

In order to permit slight adjustment of sizes so that one frame may be used for several windows, the frame is made extensible and consists of a generally C-shaped member which is rigid but which contains a certain degree of resiliency. This C-shaped frame is closed by a bow which is also extensible and which is provided With over center stops so that when it is in closed or normal position, it is locked and cannot be readily accidently moved out of this position,

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, in Figure 1 there is shown a window consisting of a frame 1, an upper sash 2 and a lower sash 3 with curtains 4 and 5 mounted therein by hinge members 6 that are mounted upon the frame I of the Window. While a sliding sash window is shown, it will be appreciated that the curtain may be used equally well in a window of the casement type. In Figure 1, two curtains are used, each extending over one half of both the upper and lower sashes of the window, this particular arrangement being shown by way of example only.

As will be seen in Figure 4, the frame in the example shown consists of a side piece H] which is preferably of circular cross-section and over which a, tubing l I is disposed and fixed. A second side piece l2 telescopes into the tubing H and is locked in suitable manner such as by a shouldered pin l3 that is projected through perforation M in the tube II and through a registered perforation in the side piece [2.

Side pieces l and I2 are generally L-shaped and each is provided with a U-shaped loop l5 located near the junction of the long and short legs of the side piece, these loops permitting a certain amount of resiliency in the members. Fitted over and secured to the free leg of the side piece H? is a tube l 6 into which one leg of an end member I! is telescoped and locked in the manner shown in Figure 5. The free end of the side piece l2 carries a similar tube I8 into which an end piece I9 is telescoped and locked in a similar manner. End pieces I! and [9 are provided with loops 2B which are disposed opposite the loops l5 and serve to give a certain amount of resiliency to the end pieces. End pieces I! and I9 carry projections 2| and 22 respectively which form hinge members for mounting the frame, as will presently appear.

Pivotally connected to the end piece I7 is a bow member 22 which, as shown in the drawings, consists of a tube of rectangular cross-section and into which is telescoped a hinge member 23, which member is locked by a pin 24 that projects through a perforation 25 in the tube 22 and through a perforation in the member 23 registered therewith in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6.

End piece i9 carries a similar tubular member 26 that is pivoted thereto and into which is telescoped a hinge member 21 that is locked also in the manner shown in Figure 6. Hinge members 23 and 2'! are pivoted together at 28 and each carries a projecting ear 29 which engages the other member, when the hinge is in aligned position, as shown in solid lines in Figure 4. Obviously, the engagement of the cars 29 with the members 23 and 21 will prevent the members from being moved further to the left as seen in Figure 4.

As will be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the curtains 4 and 5 each consist of a main curtain portion 30 which may be any loosely woven fabric, such as is commonly used as curtain material. Sewed upon this main curtain is a design 3i which is formed of a tightly woven fabric or fabrics in color or colors contrasting with the color of the main curtain fabric 30. Fixed to the ends of the curtain 30 are tightly woven fabric members 32 and 33 which together form a border appearing on the front side of the curtain and a pocket 34 located upon the back or rear side of the curtain. The particular manner in which the border members are formed and secured to the curtain is a matter of design and not of the essence of the present invention. As shown in the drawings, these members are folded under so that no selvage edges appear and are sewed to the curtain and together to form the border and pocket, this showing being by way of example and subject to change within the teachings of the invention.

As will be seen best in Figure 8, along one side of the curtain 30 is a similar border member 36 disposed and secured to the front face of the curtain and extending around and forming a pocket 31 on the back side of the curtain. The border member 36 and the pocket 31 extend from one end of the curtain to the other and are joined to the border and pocket members respectively on the ends of the curtain.

Along the other edge of the curtain is a similar border 38 which extends between and is secured to the end borders 32. A shorter extension 39 of the border 38 extends around on the rear side of the curtain to form a pocket which is somewhat shorter than the curtain and leaves space so that the hinge members 2i and 22 may project out of the pocket and alongside of the curtain.

With the curtain so formed, the frame is adjusted to the proper size and the bow member sprung outwardly into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 and the frame then placed within the pockets formed on the three sides of the curtain. When properly adjusted, the frame is of such a size that the curtain is stretched taut when placed over the frame. The bow is then pushed inwardly into the position in which it is shown in solid lines in Figure 4 and the border extension 39 wrapped around the bow and secured by snaps 40 so as to form a pocket along this side of the curtain and in which the bow is concealed. The snaps 40 may be ordinary dressmakers snaps, such as are commonly used upon wearing apparel and when sewed to the inner sides of the members forming the pocket are compietely concealed. If desired, the pockets on the other three sides of the curtain may be locked closed by similar snaps ll although this is not absolutely necessary.

The curtain member thus formed is mounted either upon the window frame or window sash by a hinge member of suitable design, such as for example the member 45, Figure 7. This member consists of fiat plate 46 which is perforated to receive mounting screws and which terminates in a cylindrical member 41 into which the frame projection 2| or 22 is registered.

The cylindrical member 41 contains a slot 48 into which the member 2i or 22 drop to lock the frame in position. In the hinge shown in Figure 7, the slot 48 is located so that the curtain will be locked in position at right angles to the mounting base 46 of the hinge member. A hinge of this type is mounted upon a portion of the window frame that is located at right angles to the sash so that when locked in position, the curtain will be disposed parallel to the sash. By suitably locating the slot 43 other mounting arrangements may be provided for as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a new and im-' proved curtain which is held taut as a planar member and a mounting for this curtain is provided so that the same will be disposed across a window. The curtain itself is semi-transparentor translucent and if ornamented with opaque figures, the same will stand out in silhouette when lighted from the outside as during the daytime.

he curtains are readily removable from the Window when desired and may be readily removed from the framework which supports them when necessary for cleaning and the like. The frameworks are completely concealed except for the hinge members when the curtain is in place'upon them.

While I have chosen to illustrate my invention.

by showing and describing a preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example only, as there are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilled in the art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I consider new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a curtain, a frame composed of rigid material, loop means in said frame for giving the same limited resiliency, and means on the curtain for holding the same on said frame taut and smooth.

2. In combination, a curtain of semi-transparent fabric, an edging around said curtain on the front face thereof, pockets formed at the edges of said curtain on the back face thereof and opening toward the median lines of the curtain, and a rigid frame disposed in and concealed in said pockets for holding said curtain taut.

3. In combination, a generally rectangular curtain composed of suitably decorated curtain fabric, a fabric border secured to the front face of said curtain along each edge thereof, extensions of said border members forming pockets disposed on the back face of said curtain and opening toward the median lines thereof, and an extensible frame disposed in and concealed by said pockets for holding said curtain taut and planar.

4. In combination, a generally rectangular planar frame composed of one side and two end members each of which is extensible, and an extensible bow pivoted to and extending between said end members and parallel to said side member to close the frame, a. hinge member formed as a part of each one of said end members and extending beyond the point of attachment of said bow thereto, and a curtain on said frame, means on said curtain engaging and enclosing said frame members for holding said curtain taut as a planar member.

5. A frame for curtains comprising, a pair of generally L-shaped side members, each having a long and short leg, a U-shaped loop in the long leg of each of said members near the junction of the short leg therewith, means connecting said members together telescopically, a pair of generally L-shaped end members each having one straight leg, means connecting the straight leg of one of said end members to each one of the short legs of said side members, a U-shaped loop in the other leg of each one of said end members disposed opposite the loop in the side member to which the end member is connected, a hinge member terminating each of said end members, a tube pivoted to each end member at the junction of the hinge and loop thereof, and a pair of bars hinged together and telescoped into said tubes to form a bow that is disposed opposite to said side members and completes said frame.

6. In combination, a generally rectangular curtain, a generally rectangular frame, mean making said frame extensible in four directions to fit the same to the curtain, and pocket means on the curtain engaging said frame to stretch the cur tain taut thereon and to conceal the frame so that the curtain when mounted in a window appears as a planar rectangle without visible means of support.

'7. In combination, a curtain, a frame, means making said frame extensible to fit the same to V the curtain, and pocket means on the curtain into which the frame fits snugly to stretch the curtain taut as a planar member, said pocket means serving also to completely conceal said frame.

HENRIETTA LESKO. 

